<p>So far this year I have sent: “Get Well” box with sinus mask, allegra, throat coat, a new Brita water bottle and cough drops; also sent a Spice set -since this is her first time in apartment-style dorm, along with some of her favorite recipes. Last year the big hit was a “Spa Night” set with enough for her roommates including facial masks, mani-pedi stuff, assorted herbal teas, and cooling masks to reduce baggy eyes from their late nights. D did not want much junk food but I did send my homemade pumpkin, banana nut and cranberry breads during the holidays since she could not come home for Thanksgiving. Can’t remember seeing it here but I found the Priority one rate boxes from the post office perfect for these periodic surprises. The large ones are a good size and not too expensive to ship and get almost anywhere in two days. I loved the idea someone posted about a Laundry box…since I just noticed D has been there a month and no laundry has come out of her college cash account!!! Good thing I also sent a surprise box with additional underwear last week!</p>
<p>My daughter and her new friends post and tag pics on Facebook, but noone EVER prints them! I cherry picked ones that had been tagged by the people in them from the first 60 days, uploaded them to costco, and pushed the button to make a collage. $8.99 for the big size plus shipping direct to her - my daughter and her friends were thrilled!</p>
<p>My son was home last weekend from college and he asked why I hadn’t sent him a care package! I guess he wants something in his mailbox. So, now I have to think of something!</p>
<p>It seems strange to send him something when he was just home and he will be home in a few weeks, then again a few weeks after that for holiday break. But maybe something to help with finals week might be good.</p>
<p>We are 400 miles away, so it probably wouldn’t take too long for it to ship. Do you think that cookies or some sort of food would make it in one piece? He said his roommate got a care package of CupaSoup and was pretty pleased with that!</p>
<p>Especially freshman year and at the beginning of hte semester, my kids like to get anything in the mailbox - letters, postcards, care packages, whatever. Even a daily comic strip cut out and pasted onto a postcard is appreciated.</p>
<p>Nerf ball
small water pistols
Mardi Gras beads
Little G.I Joe toys
Parachute toys
inflatable silly stuff (like a GIANT Easter bunny)
sequined carnival masks
gum</p>
<p>D has called in great excitement from my last care packages. She says they always magically appear just when she needs them most. The first time she was running low on beverages & what should appear on her doorstep but a care package full of them (coconut water & chocolate soy milk). The next time, she was having a hectic schedule & not eating as often and regularly as she should & voila, on her doorstep was a car package with energy & power bars. Most recently, she was just thinking it was time to make some soup because the weather had gotten colder & rainy & the makings for soup was in the last care package. It went over so well, I’ve bought more soup for both kids & recently went to the health food store to get some interesting Indian food and soups to help get her to & through finals week.</p>
<p>I think the kids see the care packages as signs that they are loved and being thought of though far away. Will have to put together more packages–both of them have birthdays this month! Will see them at Thanksgiving & also Christmas.</p>
<p>The pumpkin flavored pop-tarts got a thumbs down. Weird, he said. </p>
<p>I ordered a poster from Walgreens (using a picture from his EC found on the internet) and had it shipped to his dorm. That got a thumbs up.</p>
<p>When we came for parent’s weekend, we bought a lot of little things, but got the biggest response from the beautiful pink boot socks. While we were there I bought her new coats (THREE!! Nordstrom lady was happy with me! This dramatic weather change is pricey!) so now I can send her more boot socks and scarves as winter goes along. I echo those who said the holiday decorations were a big hit - planning to send her more for thanksgiving and christmas.</p>
<p>Can you recommend decent tasting instant soup mix, especially chicken noddle? I sent her Trader Joe miso soup packages and these are not bad. They all are high in sodium but will do in a pinch. Any other good brand?</p>
<p>I’ve hosted a number of care package parties. Invited a dozen of my D’s (or S’s) friends Moms. Everyone brought 12 identical items. I put in baskets around table and picked up Flat rate boxes from Post Office. Rotated around and each girl (guy) got 12 different items. We took a picture and signed “packed with love from…” and enclosed in box. Then all Moms mailed their own package.</p>
<p>Girls are definitely more fun to buy for: nail polish, fuzzy socks, lotions, etc.
Boys are a little more challenging. The guys loved the small salami one mom sent.
Many of items mentioned above.
I recently sent Trader Joe’s Brownie Mix (the kind you just open and pour into pan and bake) along with a foil pan. Big hit for either guys or girls.</p>
<p>One benefit of care package party is that the Moms get to catch up with each other, as we don’t see each other as often as in HS. We also go around and each Mom gives brief update on offspring: where, what studying, clubs, sports, etc. We can also then update our own kids on what other kids are up to.</p>
<p>For both daughters–“chile emergency” care packages so they could have the stuff they missed from home.</p>
<p>I included jars of a couple of local salsas, red and green chile sauces, homemade tortillas, rock hard underripe avocados (which would be almost ripe when they kids got them but still were hard enough they didn’t bruise to mush), biscochitos, dried posole with spices and a recipe to make their own posole stew. I’ve also included pistachios, local green chile turkey and bison jerky, and dried fruit/trail mix.</p>
<p>For D2 who lives in a colder, darker climate than home–a winter pampering package: shower gel, body lotion, lip balm, face cleanser and moisturizer in a tropical scents, inexpensive gloves in lots of bright colors, polarfleece scarf and hat. Boot conditioner to prevent salt stain on leather. Wool socks. And once I sent fuzzy slippers.</p>
<p>I send a small care package to S every other week or so. He’s only an hour away. He likes Steve Jobs, so I sent him the People magazine that had Jobs picture on the cover. Couple weeks later I ordered Steve Jobs biography from Amazon and had it sent directly to him. </p>
<p>Where can you get the Trader Joe’s brownie mix that you just pour and bake? That’s on my list to send next.</p>
<p>S does tend to like to receive more fun stuff like Halloween lights than the more practical stuff like printer ink.</p>
<p>For Thanksgiving (since DD2 does not come home), Turkey soup, instant mashed potatoes, stove top stuffing, canned gravy, homemade apple tart/small pie (frozen before shipping). Cranberry sauce optional.</p>